By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.

Homecoming King Tapped

37099a.jpg

John Paul Lewis, escorted by his mother Jessie Lewis, was named Riverbank High's Homecoming King by vote of the student body and received his crown during halftime of Thursday's powder puff football game.

A squad of knobby-kneed guys demonstrated their skills as cheerleaders and dancers on a surface left very muddy and slippery by the previous night's rainstorm.

Lewis lists his favorite classes as art, Spanish and geometry. He is involved in playing baseball at RHS and likes to ride bikes outside of school hours. His advice to underclassmen is, "Do your work and don't slack off." After high school he hopes to attend art school and learn to live life one day at a time.

Other contestants for the crown included Raymond Burney, Bruce Gong, Mark Palomino and Alex Reynaga.

Burney, whose mother is Carrie Garcia, maintains a 3.1 GPA and his favorite class is history. He plays football and track. His advice to younger students is, "Always try your best and you will succeed in life." His favorite quote is, "The past can hurt you, but you can either run from it or learn from it." After high school, he said, he wants to "go to college and party."

Gong, whose parents are Isabel and Doug Gong, has a 3.5 GPA and rates English, math, science, history, economics and PE, all of them, as his favorite classes. He plays football, basketball and baseball. His advice to other students is, "Don't procrastinate and have as much fun as possible." His favorite quote is, "If you make it through the night, there's a brighter day." After high school, he wants to go to college, get an education "and figure it out from there."

Palomino, whose parents are Cynthia and Rocky Palomino, has a 3.0 GPA and the subjects he prefers are history and science. At school, he takes part in leadership class, track and cross country running. His advice to underclassmen is, "Never forget who you are and always stay on path; it's worth it in the end." His favorite quote is, "Heroes get remembered, but legends never die." He plans to go on to a four-year college after high school.

The final contestant Reynaga has a 3.1 GPA and his favorite subject is economics. For sports, he participates in football, basketball and track. His advice to underclassmen is, "Don't be the class clown; take every class seriously." His favorite quote is, "I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field." Upon graduation, he wants to go on to college, play football and have a successful career. His mother Lisa Ortiz escorted him at the crowning ceremony.